Edmund Keeffe Sr. 5 6 7 8
- Born: 24 August 1850, Kemptville, Ontario, CANADA 5 6 7 9 10
- Baptized: 6 September 1850, Kemptville, Ontario, CANADA
- Marriage (1): Mary Ann Shea on 5 October 1880 in , La Crosse County, WI 1 2 3 4
- Died: 1 September 1919, Trempealeau, WI at age 69 10
- Buried: 4 September 1919, Old Catholic Cemetery, Trempealeau, WI 10
 Other names for Edmund were Edmund Keefe Sr 1 3 9 10 and Edward Keeffe.2 4
General Notes:
Originally, the family name was spelled "O'Keefe" or "O'Keeffe" but many of the children later dropped the "O" part of the name to avoid confusion with so many people with the same name in the Trempealeau area. It is not known for sure if the original spelling was with one "F" or two "F"s (O'Keefe - O'Keeffe). Edmund's gravestone is spelled as "Keefe" (one F) but his wife who died 27 years later has her gravestone as "Keeffe" (with two F's). It seems that the predominant spelling in the Trempealeau, Wisconsin area has two F's.
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Birth Notes:
His gravestone gives an incorrect birth year of 1852 instead of 1850. Somehow during his adult life, Edmund came to believe that his birth year was 1852 and many documents show that year. But the fact that he appears on the Canadian census in 1851 proves that his birth date could NOT have been in 1852.
Researcher Robert C. Westphal indicates "Inaccurate date on headstone indicates Edmund Keefe was born: August 24, 1852. Should read: August 24, 1850 (as evidenced by the date of his baptism, September 6, 1850, along with oral family history per Carl M. Keefe, providing the date of 1850 as correct)".
However, two census records of 1905 and 1910 both substantiate a birth date of 1852 instead of 1850. The "evidence of baptism" referenced by Robert C. Westphal was actually taken from IGI data which has many errors, as do many census records. The Canadian Census of 1851 seems to support the birth year of 1850 and not 1852.
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Baptism Notes:
Name: Edmond Keef
Event Type: Christening
Event Date: 6 Sep 1850
Event Place: Kemptville, Oxford, Grenville, Canada West, British Colonial America
Event Place (Original): Catholic, Kemptville, Grenville, Ontario
Gender: Male
Father's Name: Micheal Keef
Mother's Name: Margret Shea
Citing this Record
"Ontario Births and Baptisms, 1779-1899", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5MG-TMH : 13 February 2020), Micheal Keef in entry for Edmond Keef, 1850.
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Death Notes:
On his death certificate, his mother was listed as Margaret Shea of Watergrasshill, County Cork, Ireland. His father was Michael Keeffe of Ireland. His occupation was that of a RR Section Laborer for the C&NW railroad. J. J. Powell of Galesville was the attending doctor. His son, Howard Keeffe, was the informant. Burial was to be in Trempealeau.
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Noted events in his life were:
• He appeared on the 1851 Canada West Census in West Kemptville, Oxford Township, Grenville, Ontario, Canada on 1851. 6
1851 Ontario, Canada
Page 55, Line 9 Sub-District 103
West Kemptville, Oxford Township, Grenville County, Ontario (Canada West), Canada
Edmond Keeffe..1..Roman Catholic..CAN
(Living with parents.)
.
• Disproven Birth Date: 24 August 1852. The fact that he appears on the Canadian census in 1851 proves that his birth date could NOT have been in 1852.
.
• Disproven Birth Date: 1853, Canada. 4 This birth year was referenced by his age of 26 on the 1880 US Census. It was also referenced by his age of 52 on the 1905 Wisconsin State Census. It was also referenced by his age of 57 on the 1910 US Census. However, this date is disproven by the fact that he appeared on the 1851 Canadian Census which means he could not have been born in either 1852 or 1853.
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• He appeared on the 1861 Canada West Census in Kemptville, Ontario, CANADA on 14 January 1861. 7
1861 Canada West Census
Page 5, Line 47, District 1
Kemptville, Grenville County, Ontario, Canada
Frame House, 1-1/2 Stories, Single Family Home
Edmund Keeffe..10..CAN..Catholic
(Living with mother.)
.
• He immigrated in 1870.
2
• He appeared on the 1870 US Census in Trempealeau, WI on 11 June 1870. 9
1870 US Census
Page 13, Family 107, Roll 1737
Trempealeau, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
Edmund Keefe..19..CAN..Laborer
(Living with widowed mother.)
.
• He appeared on the 1880 US Census in Trempealeau, WI on 1 June 1880. 8
1880 US Census
Page 176D, District 72, Family 238, Roll 1448
Trempealeau, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
Edward McGraw..Son..26..CAN..Laborer
(Living with mother and step-father.)
NOTE - His name was mistakenly listed as Edward McGraw instead of Edward/Edmund Keefe. His mother was remarried to Barney McGraw at this time and her children were never officially adopted by Barney McGraw. The use of the McGraw surname was a mistake by the census enumerator. If his birth date were 24 Aug 1850, then his age should have been 29 instead of 26.
.
• He appeared on the 1900 US Census in Trempealeau, WI on 6 June 1900. 2
1900 US Census
Sheet 4A, District 137, Family 82
Trempealeau, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
Home owned, no mortgage
Married 18 years
Edward Keeffe..Head..Aug 1853..46..CAN..Immig. 1870..Nat..Quarryman
(Living with wife and 6 children.)
NOTE - His birth date is believed to be 24 Aug 1850 instead of Aug 1853. That means his age should have been 49 instead of 46.
.
• He appeared on the 1905 Wisconsin State Census in Trempealeau, WI in 1 June 1905. 3
1905 Wisconsin State Census
Page 461, Family 53, Line 26
Trempealeau, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
House owned
Edmund Keefe..Head..52..CAN..Day Laborer
(Living with wife and 6 children.)
NOTE - If his birth date was 24 Aug 1850, then his age should have been 54 instead of 52.
.
• He appeared on the 1910 US Census in Trempealeau, WI on 16 April 1910. 4
1910 US Census
Sheet 3B,4A, District 173, Family 90, Roll 1739
Trempealeau, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
Home owned, no mortgage
Married 29 years
Edward Keeffe..Head..57..CAN..Laborer, RR Section
(Living with wife, 3 children, and mother-in-law.)
NOTE - If his birth date was 24 Aug 1850, then his age should have been 59 instead of 57.
.
• He was buried on 4 September 1919 in the Old Catholic Cemetery in Trempealeau, WI.
The gravestone says "Edmund Keefe - Aug 24, 1852 - Sep 1, 1919". There is also a large inscription with a cross towards the top.
Plot: Row 4, Lot 2, Grave 2
Find A Grave Memorial 71164720
. 10
Edmund married Mary Ann Shea, daughter of Patrick Shea and Ellen Helena Mack McGillicudy, on 5 October 1880 in , La Crosse County, WI.1 2 3 4 (Mary Ann Shea was born on 25 February 1862 in Ireland,2 3 4 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 died on 5 February 1946 in Trempealeau, WI 5 11 17 and was buried on 8 February 1946 in Old Catholic Cemetery, Trempealeau, WI 17.)
Noted events in their marriage were:
• They appeared on the 1900 US Census in Trempealeau, WI on 6 June 1900. 2
1900 US Census
Sheet 4A, District 137, Family 82
Trempealeau, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
Home owned, no mortgage
Married 18 years
Edward Keeffe..Head..Aug 1853..46..CAN..Immig. 1870..Nat..Quarryman
Mary A. Keeffe...Wife..Feb 1862..38..IRE..Immig. 1864..7/5
Margaret Keeffe.Daughter..Mar 1882..18..WI..School Teacher
Patrick M. Keeffe..Son..May 1884..16..WI..At school
Michael H. Keeffe..Son..Jun 1886..13..WI..At school
Edmund Keeffe..Son..Apr 1893..7..WI..At school
Helena Keeffe..Daughter..Nov 1894..5..WI..At school
Mary Keeffe..Daughter..Jul 1898..1..WI
.
• They appeared on the 1905 Wisconsin State Census in Trempealeau, WI in 1 June 1905. 3
1905 Wisconsin State Census
Page 461, Family 53, Line 26
Trempealeau, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
House owned
Edmund Keefe..Head..52..CAN..Day Laborer
Mary A. Keefe..Wife..43..IRE
Margaret A. Keefe..Daughter..23..WI..Telephone Operator
Patrick M. Keefe..Son..21..WI..Telephone Operator
Michael H. Keefe..Son..19..WI..Baggageman
Edmund Keefe..Son..12..WI
Helena Keefe..Daughter..10..WI
Mark E. Keefe..Son..5..WI
.
• They appeared on the 1910 US Census in Trempealeau, WI on 16 April 1910. 4
1910 US Census
Sheet 3B,4A, District 173, Family 90, Roll 1739
Trempealeau, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
Home owned, no mortgage
Married 29 years
Edward Keeffe..Head..57..CAN..Laborer, RR Section
Mary A. Keeffe..Wife..48..IRE..Immig 1863
Edmond Keeffe..Son..17..WI
Helena Keeffe..Daughter..15..WI
Mark Keeffe..Son..9..WI
Helena Shea..Mother-in-Law..74..IRE..Immig 1863..Widowed
.
Marriage Notes:
La Crosse County, Wisconsin Marriage Index
Groom: Edmund Keefe
Bride: Mary Ann Shea
Marriage: Oct 05 1880
Marriage Record ID: 1450432
County: La Crosse
Volume: 03, Page: 0034
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Name: Edmund Keefe
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 05 Oct 1880
Event Place: La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States
Father's Name: Michael Keefe
Mother's Name: Margareth Keefe
Spouse's Name: Mary Ann Shea
Spouse's Father's Name: Patrick Shea
Spouse's Mother's Name: Ellen Mark
Page: 01267
Citing this Record
"Wisconsin, County Marriages, 1836-1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8P-RF4F : 11 March 2018), Edmund Keefe and Mary Ann Shea, 05 Oct 1880; citing La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,292,005.
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